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12 THE BALTIMORE SUN NEWS FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020 READERS RESPOND EDITORIALS Among the crime, court and convict issues being debated by legislators this session are whether to repeal sodomy laws, automatically expunge pot possession convictions or take the governor out of certain parole decisions. what we think on thosematters and others. H.B. 91: Individuals released FromCorrectional Facilities Sponsors: Del. J.

Sandy Bartlett, an Anne Arundel County Democrat; and Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan, a Montgomery County Democrat a correctional facility toprovide inmates finishing up terms for felony convictions with voter regis- tration forms before release and to inform themof their voting rights post incarceration. Analysis: Those been convicted of a felony and are eligible toberegistered voters. This effort would remind them of their reinstated right and obligation upon release and offer a bit of dignity and to the community at the same time.

A fiscal and policy note attached to the bill suggests it would be onerous for prison staff to figure out which are the felony convictions and which so we suggest the bill be amended to require the forms be handed out to all for sake and to sweep up others never registered. It will cost about $2,000 per year, a small price to pay for reminding people of their rights and roles in our democracy. Editorial board amendment. H.B. 83: AutomaticExpungement ofMarijuana Sponsors: Democratic Delegates David Moon, Lorig Charkoudian, Charlotte Crutchfield, Marc Korman and Julie Palakovich Carr (Montgomery County), J.

Sandy Bartlett and Anne Arundel counties) and Jazz Lewis (Prince County). Synopsis: Automatically expunges legal records related to marijuana possession before Oct. 1 of this year, when the law would take effect, on a tiered basis through 2028; cases in which possession is the only charge would be cleared first. Incidents occurring after October would be expunged roughly four years fromwhen the case concludes. Analysis: In 2014, Maryland decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, making it a civil, rather than criminal, offense to have 10 grams or less of the drug.

It was a recognition that more people view recreational marijuana use as acceptable these days and not worthy of a criminal record that could hurt employment and educational opportunities. It was also an effort to address the massive racial disparities in arrests: Black people were (and are) targeted at an alarmingly higher rate than white people despite similar usage habits. Possession of more than 10 grams is still a misdemeanor, though thenumberofarrests andprosecutionsare shrinkingas wemove toward eventual legalization of recreational marijua- na. Both the civil citations and criminal convictions for possession are eligible for expungement under Maryland law, but individuals must file paperwork and pay a filing fee to initiate the process. This bill would eliminate the paperwork and fee, and is in keeping with current thinking regarding marijuana.

If the state no longer considers this behavior a crime, the state should seek to remove it record. Editorial board H.B. 81: SodomyandUnnatural or Perverted Sexual Sponsors: Democratic Delegates David Moon, Lorig Charkoudian, Charlotte Crutchfield, Marc Korman and Julie Palakovich Carr (Montgomery County), Del. J. Sandy Bartlett (Anne Arundel County), Del.

Mary A. Lehman (Prince and Anne Arundel counties) and Del. Jazz Lewis County). Synopsis: Repeals criminal laws against sodomy and so-called or perverted sexual Analysis: Anti-sodomy laws across the country originally targeted heterosexual sex that part of procreation. But in the they were aimed specifically at gay people as justification for denying their parental rights, firing them and discrediting LGBT voices, according to an ACLU explainer.

Maryland allows for up to 10 years in prison and a $1,000 fine upon criminal conviction for various acts, including beastiality. According to a fiscal and policy note accompanying the repeal bill, more than 300 violationswere filed in state courts in fiscal year 2019, and 15 people were sentenced. The Department of Public Safety andCorrectional Services also said seven inmates weresentenced foroffenses. Setting the intimate relationswith animals aside (we dearly hope covered under animal abuse laws), there is no reason for the state to criminalize sexual acts between consenting adults. shameful this law is still on the books and in use.

Editorial board H.B. 300: Life Imprisonment Sponsors: Democratic Delegates: Gabriel Acevero, Lorig Charkoudian, Marc Korman, Sara Love, Pam Queen, Jared Solomon, Jheanelle K. Wilkins (Montgomery County); Regina T. Boyce, Nick Mosby, Stephanie Smith, Melissa Wells (BaltimoreCity); ShellyHettleman Fisher, Julian Ivey, Jazz Lewis, Veronica Turner, Kriselda Valderrama (Prince County); Debra Davis, Edith J. Patterson (Charles County); J.

Sandy Bartlett (Anne Arundel County); Susie Proctor (Charles counties). Synopsis: Allows inmates serving a life sentence to be paroled after serving 30 full years, if the appropriate review board recommends the approval. Analysis: InMaryland, the approval is required to parole any person sentenced to life in prison, even if the Maryland Parole Commission strongly recommends release. This billwould still require governor approval to grant parole to inmates served less than 30 years, but it would remove the criteria for those serving 30 years or more been recommended for release. A fiscal and policy note from last session, when the bill was also introduced, says fund incarcerationexpendituresmaydecreasesignificantlyasaresult of the because governors are reluctant to grant parole; it gets them few political points.

Last year, Gov. Hoganwas courageous enough togrant the release of threemen sentenced to life in prison for crimes they committed asminors, after served a collective 88 years behind bars. But hewas the first governor in two dozen years to do so, since William DonaldSchaeferwas inoffice.Parole be sopoliticized. If an inmate is deemed ready for release, he or she should be let go without the added consideration from the governor. Maryland is one of only three states that requires governor approval.

We should join the majority and get rid of the rule altogether. The 30-yearmark is arbitrary. But a start. Editorial board H.B. toVacate Sponsors: Del.

Vanessa E. Atterbeary, a Howard County Democrat. Democratic senators: SusanC. Lee, Cheryl C. Kagan, Nancy J.

King, Benjamin F. Kramer, William C. Smith Jeff Waldstreicher andCraig J. Zucker (MontgomeryCounty); Jill P. Carter, CoryV.McCray (BaltimoreCity); SarahK.Elfreth (Anne Arundel County); Arthur Ellis (Charles County); Guy Guzzone (Howard County); Katie Fry Hester (Carroll and Howard counties); Delores G.

Kelley, Katherine Klausmeier (Baltimore County); Clarence K. Lam (Baltimore and Howard counties); Obie Patterson, Paul G. Pinsky (Prince County); CharlesE. Sydnor III (Baltimore city and county) andRonaldN. Young (Frederick County).

Republican Sen. Chris West (BaltimoreCounty). bill expands beyond prostitution the kinds of offenses apersonmay file tohave vacated fromhis orher record if their role in theoffense adirect result of being a victimof human It also removes a requirement that a attorney consent to the filing beforehand. of human traffickingmay not be in control of their actions and could be made to engage in any number of offenses by their captors, including prostitution, but also trespassing, theft, public assistance fraud and lying to police, among other crimes. To have a judgment vacated against them, the filer would need to present evidence of the human trafficking and convince a court.

They deserve the change to meet that standard. Editorial board bills take on crime At the Penn North intersection, Communities United set up a table where ex-offenders and others could register to vote. Trina Ashley, left, helps Williams who says she is a former felon fill out a voter registration form. Proposed legis- lation would require registration forms be given to inmates as they leave prison. ALGERINA SUN claimsaysmore about her than Sanders Hillary Clinton says that Bernie Sanders.

She sounds like someone in a high school in crowd, ignorant and conceited, convinced that her own opinion is universal. currently includes about of voters polled, some 5 million donors, several members of Congress, National Nurses United, DreamDefenders, the Sunrise Movement, climate scientists, the vast number of doctorswhowant to see Medicare for All, several reputable econo- mists andmore. Mostofus alreadyknewwewerenobody to people like Hillary Clinton. That is what has been wrong with the system: It only works for people they think are somebody. We believe it shouldwork for everybody.

KatharineW. Rylaarsdam, Baltimore Away to fill Baltimore police and state prison jobs Every fewmonthswe read about how the Baltimore Police Department is still short 300 to 500 officers (Baltimore Police hiring woes continue, alarming federal judge overseeing mandated reform Jan. 22) also reading that (Think Baltimore police overtime is out of control? In understaffed prison system overtime spikes to $129million, Jan. 17). Yet, the solutions are always the same.

Streamline the process, start a new online recruitment campaign and recruit from other districts. How about we fill these gaps and provide actual career opportunities to Baltimore high school students by devel- oping coursework in policing and correc- tions that creates a pipeline into the police cadet academy or state corrections depart- ment upon graduation? This could be easily funded through reductions in overtime and is a strategy that seems likeamoreeffectiveand lasting short- and long-term solution to both staffing issues. If my letter seems familiar because written about the subject a few times previously. Unfortunately, while I receive a lot of positive response from readers, foundations and other press, still no response or action from the Baltimore City Police Department or the office through this or other channels. Wishing the city the best of luckwith the old recruitment methods, but time for somenewand bigger ideas.

GreggNass, Baltimore Freight trains need a crew of at least two to run safely A recent headline in The Baltimore Sun raised a prime question surrounding the railroad industry these days could cut train crews from 2 to 1, but is it Jan. 21). Unfortunately, the accompanying article did not answer whether reducing the crew in the cab of freight trains to one person is safe and a freight rail worker even quoted in the piece. As a railroadconductor forover42years and the union representative for 28 years, I can tell you that it is not safe! The Maryland General Assembly right- fully agrees, having twice passed legislation overwhelmingly requiring two people on freight train crews. Unfortunately, the legislationwas vetoed by Gov.

LarryHogan on both occasions, but the Maryland legislature is poised to override his veto business: Maryland legisla- ture should override Jan. 7). A recent poll shows that of Mary- landers support the legislation and the states of California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois andWestVirgin- ia have already passed the legislation. The self-serving narrative from rail carriers Union Pacific Railroad CEO Lance Fritz is quoted in the is that technology in the form of Positive Train Control (PTC) technology is the silver bullet that can replace a conductor on the train. Thousands of other freight railroad workers who have reported operational difficulties related to PTC can tell you it is not.

CEOFritz said: that we would not go down this path if we certain that fewer people in the cab of the locomotive had no impact on If he truly is concerned about worker and public safety, he should talk with freight conductors and engineers to hear first-hand how their fast actions, working together have saved lives, property and minimized damage done in communities across the nation as a result of train derailments and rail crossing accidents. Orhowaconductor saved the life of their engineer by being able to direct first responders to their train during a medical emergency. Or the numerous other situations they encounter on a daily basis that PTC has zero effect on. So, the answer to the question posed by that headline is absolutely no! On behalf of the rail workers I represent and the communities our freight trains travel through daily, I am very appreciative that theGeneral Assembly had safety inmind. LarryKasecamp, Frostburg Thewriter isMaryland state legislative director for the transportation division of the International Association of SheetMetal, Air, Rail andTransportation Workers.

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